Bogomilism

Bogomils, adherents of Bogomilism, were followers of an Orthodox Cleric, likely a priest, from Bulgaria by the name of Bogomil (Gr. Theophylus) active around 950 A.D.
Their doctrine most resembles Armenian Paulicianism and earlier Gnostic sects in its insistence upon Dualism. In its Christian form Gnosticism tended to insist upon an "appearance" of flesh for Christ since "true flesh" would be a hindrance to his work of Salvation rather than an aid.
The earliest record of Bogomilian theology comes from a work entitled, Against the Newly-Appeared Heresy of the Bogomils written in Staro-Slav by St. Kozma in the 10th century. A 12th century work by the author Euthymius Zigabenus claimed that the Bogomils believed man's soul to have been created by God, but that all matter was invented by Satan, the elder son of God. As a consequence of their belief that the grace of God could not adhere to flesh / matter the Bogomils believed that Christ had only the appearance of a human body. They also reject the Eucharist and other sacraments, as well as relics... on the basis of their ties to physical nature. They also practiced a very austere asceticism, vegetarianism and celibacy like the Cathari and Albigensians due to their hatred of their own fleshly bodies.

This article by: Sub-deacon Michael Merren of the ROCOR

For an article by Karen Rae Keck @ St. Pachomius' Library follow the link: [[1]]

Bogomilism : a study of the "Bulgarian heresy" as an expression of the the principle of Puritanismby Nicholas Nikoloff
Type: Book; English
Publisher: New York : Biblical Seminary, 1940.
Dissertation: Thesis (M.R.E.)--Biblical Seminary in New York, 1940.

Bogomilism in the Balkans in the light of the latest research : proceedings of the Symposium held in Skopje on May 30, 31st and June 1st 1978.by Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite.; Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti.; Akademija nauka i umjetnosti Bosne i Hercegovine.;
Type: Book; Multiple languages
Publisher: Skopje : Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts : Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts : Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Hertsegovina, 1982.